Choosing the right solid oral dosage form is no longer just functional, it’s strategic. While tablets have long dominated high-volume manufacturing, capsules are quickly becoming the preferred format for new product launches. In the U.S., capsules now surpass tablets in availability among supplements and accounted for over 40% of new drug approvals in 2023, up from 31% in 2019.
This shift is driven by a combination of consumer preference, formulation flexibility, and the need for cleaner, faster, and more adaptable delivery systems. Capsules are no longer an alternative, they are, in many cases, the superior choice.
Capsules Outpacing Tablets: A U.S. Market Perspective
Capsules are steadily overtaking tablets in both dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. In supplements, capsules lead particularly in herbal and probiotic categories, with over 74% of herbal supplement users in the U.S. preferring them. In pharma, recent FDA data shows capsules made up 42% of 2023 drug approvals, an 11-point increase since 2019. This is due to their patient-friendly profiles, better absorption rates (up to 25% faster than tablets), and formulation versatility.
The U.S. remains the world’s largest market for empty capsules, with rising demand for clean-label, customizable, and technically advanced formats.
What’s Driving the Growth of Capsules?
- Consumer preference: Capsules are easier to swallow, cause less gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, and are preferred by ~60% of patients, especially the elderly.
- Clean-label appeal: HPMC capsules allow brands to minimize additives while offering non-GMO, Kosher, Halal, and vegan options.
- Targeted delivery: Capsules support acid-sensitive actives like probiotics and enzymes. Technologies such as Delayed-Release and Acid resistant ensure targeted intestinal release and ingredient protection.
- Sustainability and compliance: Vegetarian and TiO₂-free capsules meet global regulatory demands and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
Advantages of Capsules Over Tablets
Capsules offer multiple formulation and operational advantages:
- Versatility: Suitable for powders, granules, liquids, and capsule-in-capsule formats.
- Gentle processing: Encapsulation avoids heat/pressure damage, ideal for sensitive actives like enzymes, biologics, or vitamins.
- Improved bioavailability: Liquid filled capsules enable lipid-based delivery for poorly soluble APIs; Acid resistant capsules offer acid resistance without coatings.
- Simpler compositions: Require fewer excipients than tablets, streamlining regulatory approvals.
Strategic Advantages for Formulators and Brands
- Faster to market: Capsule development skips tablet tooling and enables quicker scale-up.
- Efficient production: Fewer steps than tablets (no compression or coating) means simpler Quality Control and less process variability.
- Customization: Capsules allow visual branding through color, printing, and flavoring options, enhancing patient adherence and anti-counterfeiting.
- Regulatory readiness: cGMP-certified capsules from suppliers like CapsCanada come with full documentation, supporting audits and global registration.
CapsCanada: Engineered Capsule Solutions
From high-speed machine compatibility to targeted delivery technologies, CapsCanada offers solutions tailored to evolving market needs. Our product range includes:
- Vegetarian Capsules: K-CAPS® Plant-based, clean-label HPMC capsules
- Delayed Release Capsules: K-CAPS® Delayed Release capsules are designed for intestinal release of acid-sensitive ingredients, without external coatings.
- Gelatin Capsules: G-CAPS® with full vertical integration
- Acid Resistant Capsules: AR-CAPS® capsules for gastrointestinal -sensitive actives
- Liquid Filled Capsules: LQ-CAPS® for improved bioavailability
All products are manufactured in North America under cGMP standards, with dedicated technical support and global logistics infrastructure.
As consumer demands evolve and formulations become more complex, capsules offer the adaptability, performance, and regulatory alignment required to succeed. For brands launching their next innovation, capsules are no longer a backup, they’re the strategic path forward.
Ready to advance your formulation strategy? Explore our capsule solutions or speak with our team to find the best fit for your application.
